Gosnell found guilty of murder
Justice is served?
Prosecutors are expected to now seek the death penalty for Gosnell.
The 72 year old was charged with killing four premature babies after they were born alive in his Philadelphia clinic by severing their spinal cords. He was acquitted of one of those charges, and convicted in three. Gosnell was also found guilty in the accidental death of a patient, who died after receiving an abortion and a lethal mix of sedatives and painkillers at his clinic.
Gosnell's lawyers argued during the trial that no babies were born alive in the clinic.
A 2010 federal investigation described his West Philadelphia clinic as a filthy "house of horrors" that primarily served low income women seeking late-term abortions. The nearly 300-page grand jury report said remains of fetuses were stored in freezers and that instruments used in abortions were contaminated with sexually transmitted diseases.
Gosnell faced hundreds of lesser charges, including employing a minor in his clinic and violating the state's 24-hour waiting period for abortions. He was also charged with performing abortions on women who were more than 24 weeks pregnant, which is illegal in the state. Gosnell's wife, a cosmetologist who helped perform abortions, was among four of the clinic's employees who also pleaded guilty to several charges.
Earlier on Monday, the jury said they were deadlocked on two of the charges against Gosnell. They resumed deliberating and reached a decision early afternoon. CNN reported that the prosecutor in the case cried when the verdict was read Monday afternoon.
The trial has stoked debate over late term abortions in the country. Pro abortion rights groups say Gosnell was an outlier breaking numerous laws and regulations, while the anti-abortion rights movement has used the case to advocate for more state-level abortion restrictions.
The case revealed that abortion clinics in the state hadn't been routinely inspected in 15 years, prompting the resignation of two top health department officials.
--The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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